Why International footy can challenge Origin

THE phenomenal growth of international rugby league in the past 12 months has shown Sydney can no longer be snubbed as a host for Test match football.

When the magnificent new Western Sydney Stadium opens in Parramatta next year, it will be the perfect venue for the Kangaroos to regularly stage Kiwi, Tonga or Great Britain internationals against Australia.

In the past 10 seasons, Sydney fans have been treated like outcasts with just three Test matches in 2010 against PNG, 2014 against the Kiwis and 2017 against Lebanon.

We should play them every second year. Call it the Meninga-Taumalolo Cup because it was Mal who fought so hard to make Saturday night's game happen and Jason Taumalolo was the first superstar player to commit to Tonga.

Now it's up to the State Government to make sure Sydney fans get a slice of the action.